CHAO SANLITUN, BEIJING | HOTEL THAT MAKE YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR PHONE

CHAO SANLITUN, BEIJING

HOTEL THAT MAKES YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR PHONE

New places always help us look at life differently | The Glasshouse on Level 2 @thepeihan

Have you ever ignored your handphone for a day or so? When was the last time you intentionally put down your cellphone for a lengthy period of two nights? For how long did the phone miss your attention? Tough answer, especially as we live in the age of smartphone’s all-purpose features. Even when we try to escape from the bustle life to a tranquil and quaint resort, we still can’t resist using our phones to snapshot our peaceful moment or the picturesque destinations, and share them with your friends elsewhere. No matter how sophisticatedly designed their architecture is, many resorts can’t manage to steal your attention from your handphone. But, there is one in the heart of Beijing busy district.

Please do not disturb. I am disturbed enough already | The door Hanger

I have just found one place where I completely ignored my phone and I cared not for how many unread messages received or what other friends were doing or who they hanged out with. To me this hotel resembles a friend with whom I’d like to hang out; a kind of person for whom I exclusively reserve my time, intensity and spirit.

That’s pretty neat, something to look forward to | The slipper

Some people might say: "Life is too short for a bad wine." I say: "Life is too short to stay in a bad hotel." How I interpret "good" or "bad" means not to how luxury the hotel is or many stars the hotel has earned, but I'm technically talking about the degree to which the hotel can make me "feel."

I most of the time find myself in a situation where I am physically at point A but mentally somewhere else at point B but I never, for a second, feel that while I was staying at CHAO Sanlitun, Beijing.

Better days are coming. They are called Saturday & Sunday | CHAO Weekend Guide

Staying at CHAO Sanlitun, Beijing made me feel special when I thought my life was bland. The entire staying experience has blown me away; my day was slow, laid back and easy. Let me share with you 8 reasons why CHAO Sanlitun, Beijing will make you completely care no more for your phone

1. THE QUIETER YOU BECOME, THE MORE YOU CAN HEAR

The line has almost become a work of art in itself.

In a world where everyone is overly exposed through media and pictures, the coolest thing you can do to stand out from the crowd is to maintain your mystery. This is how CHAO chooses to position itself. It’s so wonderfully low-key: nothing is too loud, nor too subdued. Silence is the key to the heart of CHAO. Yet, in its muted ambiance, CHAO beckons more attention from its guests. CHAO’s caring for tranquil atmosphere turns out to be conspicuous for its guests to observe and explore more. And, this was why I left my phone out to seize an opportunity to indulge in silence.

Design is not for philosophy. It's for life.

I admitted it. I used to be that one person who cared so much about how people would think of me. It's like I used to walk into a room full of people and wonder if they liked me.

After all these years, I walk into another room, still full of people but wonder if I like them.

The secret of creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

CHAO Sanlitun, Beijing is not for everyone but for the like-minded. It is for those who tend to observe more than they speak. I am a believer of being quiet. The silent ones are most observant ones. The silent ones have the loudest mind. The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

What is done in love is done well @thepeihan @gshtfy

2. QUIET ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN HEAR WHAT YOU'RE NOT SAYING

How would it be like to find someone entirely understands you, despite our first and brief meeting? CHAO knows how to do it; I quickly realize that CHAO hears what I don’t say.

He found the colors to paint her where the world had left her grey.

CHAO’s multi-layered thoughts appear to be unnoticeable, but their effect has great impact upon the guests. Tone and manners of both tangibles and intangibles are blended so well to win the customers’ heart. In the guests’ private domain, bathroom amenity can easily capture the guests’ attention with its fine packaging and neatly imprinted messages on it. Though I am never a bathroom amenity collector, CHAO made me want to carry it home.

Creativity is intelligence having fun.

There is indeed no angry way to say "Bubbles"

Things organized neatly.

The in-room bar experience was a joy to explore, as it offers all you can drink and eat. It is designed just to make you feel right at home—from Nespresso coffee machine to a set of French-brand tea bags to a complimentary Beijing local snacks.

3. MEN & WOMEN IN BLACK

Legend has it that black is the color of love and sacrifice; the color on Lord Shiva’s neck as he drank the poisonous well-water to save lives of all the angels in the heaven. Black uniform at CHAO goes beyond that. In black uniform, the staff appears with character and fine personality which looks presentable, bold, and energetic. Much as we could barely notice black-cladding stage crews on any theatrical management, I hardly saw the staff around, but if I happened to appear lost or in need of something, the black-shirted staff of CHAO would immediate approach me even before I asked them so. The solid black color makes the staff elegant and outstanding, yet invisible enough to make the guests feel their privacy amidst dynamic services.

Passion never fails.

Young and vibrant, the staff is enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. And, if you ask me; passion never fails.

4. LIVE THE MONOCLE LIFESTYLE

Do it with passion or not at all.

You have no idea how much I am into Monocle Magazine and if you know me personally, you probably have seen me carry a Monocle magazine almost everywhere I go.

Have you ever wonder why Monocle Magazine remains thick and beefy with substance while other print magazines are getting thinner or fading away amidst the rise of electronic media? Walk through CHAO and you’ll realize why.

Stunning, unbelievable, bewildering and outrageous. @thepeihan

Like identical twins, CHAO and Monocle share common characteristics—lifestyle, culture, art, business and fashion—portrayed in a suave manner. Each step I walked in CHAO I felt as if I was flipping each page of Monocle, tastefully and carefully laid out, gently conversing to its readers, and, eyes pleasing. Much as Monocle makes you feel attached with it anywhere you move, CHAO also makes you intimate with its peaceful surroundings. I don’t feel like connecting to anyone but the hotel; it was the same spell why Monocle Magazine detaches me from any calls or media.

I’m a kind of a little bit of everything wrapped into one and that is the reason why I stopped buying others printed magazines but Monocle. This is truly because Monocle offers me everything that I want - lifestyle, culture, art, business and fashion. The fact that CHAO and Monocle shared common characteristics and everything they do is tasteful. I couldn’t find any reasons why I shouldn’t fall in love with this hotel.

If I walk out that door, will you still walk with me? @thepeihan

People always try to box you in to what they know you best for. @thepeihan

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

5. COMPLETE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE

“Create the good life together.” This is CHAO’s tagline. Come on. That is jaded and old fashioned: I first thought when I saw it. But after a night-stay experiencing the “Good Life” myself, I realized that I was wrong. “The good life” can never be old-fashioned. The good life is always a trend. Who doesn’t want to have a good life?No, not me.

Be in love with your life, every detail of it.

Wash away your troubles with some bubbles.

CHAO Sanlitun, Beijing redefines and set a brand-new trend on how the hotel should be. I don’t go for a luxury style, I care for lifestyle. I want a good lifestyle. Just like drinking coffee, it’s not just a drink, it’s a lifestyle.

You know, we have so little time to say the things we mean. @thepeihan

Without telling it, the hotel could read that I am a movie-goer. I was invited to join their weekend movie program and, believe it or not, it was a flat-bed seat where I could completely lie down. Fortunately, they played my favorite movie—Lost in Translation, otherwise there would be chances that I turned this into a Sunday afternoon nap.

Your life doesn't get better by chance, it gets better by change. @gshtfy

CHAO not only gives the movie program, it also offers an array of different lifestyles’ classes and workshops, from floral arrangement to D.I.Y. your fragrance, leather making, cooking, etc.

Wash with care.

CHAO’s good life means good dining too. Its various culinary adventure is various, featuring a curated menu of international and Chinese inspired home-cooked cuisine. Eat glitter for breakfast and shine all day. CHAO’s house breakfast at Drawing Room on Level 2 is something you must try. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time for the Sunday Jazz Brunch but I’m making my way back for it soon!

Will I see you again when I wake up tomorrow?

To top it off, the Living Room and Club Bar on the lobby level offers live music program featuring international performing live jazz, R&B, funk and more.

With such good life in reality at CHAO, why would I need to care for the social media out there in the virtual world?

6. CREATIVE ART SPACE

How can emptiness be so heavy?

When I was young. My grandmother once told me to find art in everything.

“Why?” I asked quizzically.

“And one day you’ll know” she replied.

Now that my grandmother, the love of my life, has passed, I am dealing with the “Art of moving on…”

I have started to see arts unfold in every path I amble forth. In fact, what she meant was there is arts in every aspect of life; arts en route every journey, arts evolving in diverse forms.

We want our life without stress and worries, we don't need to be rich or famous, we just want to be happy.

Living this life is never easy and there are days that I feel like giving up but art and music were the only two things that were there for me when no one else was. At CHAO, I feel so much inspired and I felt that the hotel has energized my spirit.

Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.

The hotel intentionally designs a series of venue to support every context of the good life. Whether work or play, CHAO makes sure that the arts and creative elements embrace the guests with quaint ambience conducive for their mission over a sojourn.

Who would ever want to trade this artful quality with bombarding information from a handphone?

7. EARTH-TONE SCHEME

Research has it that the earth-tone color in bedroom can promote sleep. My sleep is never easy, despite long tiring day. But CHAO uses “brown, white, wooden texture with several different shades of grey colors” to ease my sleep. It worked!

There is no Christian Gray. Just Grey.

I was not easily convinced at first. So I walked up-and-down many times in the hotel, and in-and-out my bedroom, just for an action-research on how colors and bedroom design could transmit relaxing and peaceful effects to me all the way from public space to private space. Yes, they did. It is a bit of Zen, but Zen with a style.

Legend says, when you can't sleep at night, it's because you're awake in someone else's dream.

No, my easy sleep was not a result of fatigue from this action research; it resulted from CHAO’s subdued colors just right for creating a peace of mind.

Luxury, to me, is not owning a lot of stuff. Luxury, to me, is feeling unrushed.

I forgot to switch off or mute my handphone, but I don’t care where it was or who would call. I wouldn’t hear any ring anyway.

8. BEIJING MID-TOWN

Every object tells a story if you know how to read it.

The Hotel hides itself in Beijing mid-town. Just cross the road and there you arrive at the busiest district of the Capital, Sanlitun, where it is just like Time square of NYC in Beijing version. You pretty much have everything in Sanlitun. Fashion, Lifestyle, Food scene, Business or even to see and to been seen.

Very early, I knew that the only object in life was to grow.

When we think of the destination hotels, we think of remote islands just like Maldives or on the peak of the mountain but it is so not true. If you’re coming from afar, CHAO, strategically located in the heart of the city can be your destination hotel too.

MEMORIES TAKE US BACK, DREAM TAKE US FORWARD

I checked out from the Hotel a week ago and I look forward very much for the next visit to CHAO. We’re like a friend now and we are creating the Good Life Together.

When it's time for you to venture out, don't let fear have you looking back at what you're leaving behind. @thepeihan

While I’m finishing up this article, the memories are still so vivid. I still think of that staircase in the Lobby and can’t get over that semi-buffet breakfast at the Drawing room.